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Migraines are one of those health issues that affect men, women, and children all over the world — and yet, we know so little about them. Without proper treatment in sight, CBD oil has been hailed a hero in the fight against this condition.

But how does CBD work exactly, and can it really treat our migraines? Those are just some of the questions we’ll be answering today.

What Is a Migraine?

Migraine is one of the most widespread neurological diseases in the world that affects roughly 1 billion people. Yet, even though it affects so many, research suggests that about half of them never get diagnosed.

Migraines manifest as throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head. Oftentimes, migraine attacks are followed by other symptoms, including:

Nausea

Vomiting

Extreme sensitivity to light, sound, touch, and smell

Dizziness

On average, migraine attacks can last anywhere between 4 and 72 hours. During this time, most people aren’t able to work or function properly. Also, it’s pretty common for migraine sufferers to struggle with anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

One thing that exacerbates the condition and turns an episodic migraine into a chronic one is the overuse of painkillers.

Migraine Triggers

Various triggers can bring about a migraine, and the list is pretty extensive. From having too much or too little sleep to stress, certain foods, drinks, and medication, there are plenty of factors that can cause an attack.

To figure out what’s causing the migraine, specialists recommend that we put together a list of potential culprits. Every time we feel an attack coming, we can check what we think caused it and try to see if there’s a pattern.

Once we learn what’s making the condition worse, we can get better at avoiding it. However, treating the cause of the migraine, and not just the symptoms, is a whole different story.

How CBD Helps With Migraines

Long before cannabis became legal in some states, people used it to treat various chronic illnesses, including milder headaches and migraines. But up until the 1990s, scientists had no explanation as to why or how CBD helps with these conditions.

That’s when they discovered the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This neural communication network is responsible for keeping your whole body balanced and well regulated, which it does by releasing endocannabinoids.

However, when the ECS isn’t doing its job, and we experience an endocannabinoid deficiency, our anandamide levels drop. Once that happens, we may experience severe headaches and migraines.

One of the best ways to restore our body’s balance and bring the levels up is to take CBD.

CBD as an Alternative to Opioids

Unlike opioids or other over-the-counter meds that we can buy to treat migraines, CBD is a completely natural substance. Also, unlike other medications, it should not only treat the symptoms but the condition itself.

It’s also important to mention that CBD isn’t addictive and won’t make us feel high. Still, when ingested in high quantities, it can produce some minor side effects.

Other CBD Benefits

In addition to treating headaches and migraines, CBD offers a wide variety of other health benefits. It can be used to treat insomnia, anxiety, and chronic pain, which are some of the biggest migraine triggers.

What’s more, lots of people use CBD to ease the symptoms of PTSD, ADD, MS, and many other conditions. CBD also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and when used topically, it can treat numerous skin conditions too.

How to Take CBD for Migraines

We can get our daily dose of CBD by ingesting, vaping, or applying it topically. For those who don’t want to vape or are just starting their CBD journey, we recommend taking it orally, in the form of CBD oil.

With just a few drops under the tongue or in a drink, we can experience the soothing effect of CBD in a matter of minutes.

Vaping is also a pretty popular method of ingestion among those who suffer from migraines. However, since it’s trickier to find the right dose, it’s best to start on the lower end and work our way up.

Side Effects of Taking CBD

As mentioned, ingesting too much CBD does come with some side effects, which include:

An upset stomach

Dizziness

Nausea

Fatigue

Fortunately, consulting with a doctor and understanding how to take CBD can usually help us avoid all of these.

Final Thoughts

By treating the underlying issues, and not just the symptoms, CBD can transform the lives of those suffering from migraines in immeasurable ways. However, before starting the treatment, we recommend consulting with a physician. That’s the only way to ensure that this natural alternative doesn’t interfere with any other medication we might already be taking.

In order to function properly, we need to get our 8-hour recharge every night. The road from minor sleep deprivation to chronic sleeplessness is much shorter than we think, and soon enough, we may find ourselves facing days of irritability and lack of focus.

Luckily, there are a number of solutions we can try — yoga, sleeping pills, and strict sleeping schedules, just to name a few — but sometimes, none of them will help. In that case, CBD oil might be the only alternative that could work for us.

What Is CBD, and How Does it Work?

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a pretty important network of neurotransmitters in the human body. It regulates our immune system and almost all vital processes — appetite, mood, body temperature, and of course, sleep.

However, when we’re suffering from insomnia, the ECS might not be able to bring back the balance to our body on its own. That’s when CBD steps in.

CBD, which stands for cannabidiol, comes from hemp, a variety of cannabis, but unlike THC, a major marijuana compound, it can’t get us high. Instead, when we consume it, it engages with the ECS and helps it sustain the balance in our body and brain. By doing so, it lets us get the good night’s sleep we so desperately deserve.

Factors to Keep In Mind When Choosing CBD Oil

The market is saturated with all sorts of CBD oil brands right now, and some manufacturers are promoting their products as some kinds of magical cures. Unfortunately, a lot of these brands sell mediocre or even poor-quality oils, making it hard for new buyers to recognize the good ones.

But don’t worry — we’re here to tell you what you should look for when shopping for CBD oil.

1. Organic Hemp and CO2 Extraction

Look for hemp that was grown in nutrient-rich, clean soil. Hemp plants absorb all substances from their environment. So if the hemp was cultivated in polluted soil or if too many pesticides were used, these harmful substances would find their way into the oil as well.

Apart from the hemp quality, pay attention to the extraction method. The best oils are often extracted with supercritical CO2.

2. Third-Party Lab Reports

Every manufacturer should have a third-party lab report available on their website. These labs evaluate the quality and safety of the product by analyzing the content of CBD oil. If we can’t find the lab report anywhere on the company’s website, it’s better to avoid that brand completely.

3. Other Sleep-Boosting Ingredients

Sometimes, CBD oils come infused with some sleep-boosting ingredients, such as melatonin. This is a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. It complements the effects of CBD and ensures that you get a night of good-quality sleep.

4. CBN Content

CBN is a substance that is released when THC oxidizes, but unlike THC, it is non-psychoactive. Instead, it has sedating qualities, so it can help us fall asleep quicker. The more CBN there is, the more effective the oil will be.

Best CBD Oils for Insomnia

Now you know what to look for, but you still might not be sure where to start. To narrow down your search a little, we’ve picked out some of the best CBD oils on the market.

Royal CBD

This California-based brand aims to provide affordable and environmentally friendly CBD products. You’ll find all of its third-party lab reports on its website, so you’ll know exactly what you’re buying.

The Royal CBD Oil itself comes in several potency options and flavors. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned consumer, this brand will definitely cater to your unique needs.

NuLeaf Naturals

NuLeaf Naturals specializes in CBD oil drops. Since it offers no other products, you can be sure that the oil is of the best possible quality — and we can attest to its perfect consistency and color.

The oil comes in different bottle sizes, though the potency is consistent across the board. It has an earthy taste typical of CBD, and a slightly leafy smell.

Charlotte’s Web

This is a brand with a wonderful backstory; its owners are the Stanley brothers, whose cannabis oil improved Charlotte Figi’s quality of life. Charlotte was suffering from daily seizures, but after using this oil, the seizures were reduced to a monthly occurrence.

Unlike some other brands, this company uses olive oil extraction, which allows for thicker, greener oil. As for the range, the oil is available in a few different concentrations and sizes, as well as four flavors.

CBD Oil — the Sleep Aid You Were Waiting For

Research on the effects of CBD on sleep isn’t yet conclusive, but one thing is certain — those who have tried it highly recommend it. It’s safe, natural, and effective, with little to no side effects and no danger of addiction, which is so common with sleeping pills. So wait no further — get your CBD oil today!

Dealing with anxiety sometimes feels like we are fighting a losing battle. We are all anxious from time to time, and that’s perfectly normal. But what happens when the budding feelings of fear and apprehension become our undeniable reality?

Well, in that case, we may have a mental health problem on our hands.

What Makes Us Anxious?

When we react anxiously to something that isn’t a stress trigger, that means our system isn’t functioning correctly anymore. In fact, it shows that we’re battling an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety disorders are a dime a dozen. People can have phobias that develop rapidly after a traumatic event (such as arachnophobia). They can also develop gradually over time (such as agoraphobia).

Panic disorders that prevent people from functioning properly are also common. But the most typical anxiety issue is generalized anxiety disorder.

No matter which version of anxiety disorder we have, the symptoms are usually quite similar:

Feelings of insecurity

Somatic complaints

Heart palpitations

Sleep disorders

Dizziness

Panic

Emotional outbursts

Migraines

Muscle tension

Dry mouth

Anxiety isn’t always a disorder. It’s a natural response to something stressful or frightening. In essence, it’s our mind’s warning system that’s saying, “Something is wrong — either run or fight it!”

But sometimes, this “fight-or-flight” response can go haywire. There are a lot of things that can cause this:

Genetic predispositions

Medical conditions

Neural trauma

Triggering traumatic events

All of these can lead to anxiety disorders. Sadly, treating and managing anxiety is a long, uphill battle for most people.

Can CBD Help Us?

Most people rely on prescribed anti-anxiety medication. But CBD is a natural remedy that can quite effectively battle this issue.

CBD can restore the chemical balance that we have lost due to our anxiety disorder. Sometimes, neurochemicals don’t communicate properly. Neurotransmitters and their receptors start to interact in distorted ways. That can lead to various issues, such as higher levels of anxiety.

How CBD Works

CBD restores the balance by influencing the body’s natural endocannabinoid system. The ECS is a neurochemical network that has its own cannabinoid receptors.

The ECS plays a massive role in the regulation of many cognitive and bodily functions. Sleep patterns, memory, pain responses, mood, and cognition, as well as our immune systems, all depend on its proper functioning.

CBD affects specific areas of the brain (such as the hippocampus) and stimulates neurogenesis. It also affects neurotransmitters and their receptors. CBD induces better communication between the two. Thus, it can contribute to the overall neurochemical balance.

The Bliss Hormone

Most importantly, CBD can help our brains produce more anandamide. This substance is also known as the “bliss hormone” because it’s responsible for feelings of joy and euphoria.

What Is the Best CBD Oil for Anxiety?

The Value of Quality Hemp

The best CBD oil will always be made from high-quality organic hemp. Many companies make sure their soil, water, and overall environment are clean and not contaminated with pesticides. That assures the highest quality of the hemp.

How Do They Get the Oil?

Top-notch CBD oil will also be extracted using the supercritical CO2 extraction method, as it ensures the highest purity of the oil. However, we should pick the CBD oil made by a company that sends its products to third-party labs for testing. We ought to look for proof that the oil is as healthy as possible.

With that in mind, here are five incredible brands and CBD oils that ought to help with anxiety.

Best CBD Oils for Anxiety

Royal CBD

Royal CBD is, without a doubt, the top contender on the CBD market. The company offers amazing product quality at an affordable price. All four potency options of its full-spectrum oil are also thoroughly tested.

Royal CBD oils have a minuscule dose of THC in them (less than 0.3%). So, there’s no danger of getting high. What’s more, the chemical composition of these full-spectrum oils is rather outstanding. They are rich in terpenes, flavonoids, and, of course, non-psychoactive cannabinoids.

CBDPure

This company is a solid choice for complete novices. It offers full-spectrum CBD oil in three (rather mild) concentrations (600 mg, 300 mg, and 100 mg). In addition, CBDPure full-spectrum oils provide the entourage effect. That makes them ideal for anxiety and stress disorders because we can start with smaller doses.

NuLeaf Naturals

NuLeaf Naturals is a veteran on the CBD market that focuses on making a small selection of top-notch products. Rather than spreading themselves too thin, the NuLeaf team shows the full extent of their expertise when it comes to CBD oil drops. Thus, their full-spectrum oil comes in various quantity options and is certifiably pure and potent.

Charlotte’s Web

As the pioneer on the CBD market, Charlotte’s Web is certified by the U.S. Hemp Authority. The company offers a wide range of options, both when it comes to potency and the size of the packaging. There is a 300 mg, 750 mg, and even a massive 2,850 mg option.

Although the oil is of high quality, this company doesn’t use the CO2 extraction method. Instead, it uses olive oil extraction, which gives the oil a slightly different color and texture.

CBDistillery

Finally, we have CBDistillery, another experienced company on the CBD market.

CBDistillery offers full-spectrum oil as well as a version of the product without any THC in it. These come in five different potency variants, all of which are highly affordable.

The wide potency range is quite commendable. It makes the company an excellent choice for both novices and senior users of CBD oil. There’s even a massive 5,000 mg version! That’s enough CBD to help alleviate even the most challenging anxiety disorders.

Final Thoughts

Various studies have shown that CBD oil offers favorable results when it comes to battling anxiety. There is some proof that it can not only lessen but also help manage it in the long run.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that we should forgo regular therapy. A natural alternative might offer a helping hand, though. It might even be a better choice for those of us who know how big of a burden anxiety can really be. And, as you can imagine, this is both comforting and groundbreaking for many of us.

Pain comes in various forms, so naturally, there are different medications we can use to treat it. The problem with them, however, is that they each target a somewhat limited range of pain symptoms. Luckily, CBD or cannabidiol has now emerged as a safe and versatile anti-pain solution. In particular, CBD oil for pain stands out due to its high efficacy.

How Does CBD Oil Relieve Pain?

Unlike most other pain-management solutions, cannabidiol attacks pain symptoms on multiple levels. It’s able to do that thanks to its powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. In addition, CBD offers blood cells excellent protection.

Cannabidiol comes in different forms. CBD oil, however, is among the top options for pain sufferers since it has high bioactivity. Also, it can quickly relieve acute and chronic pain caused by various conditions, such as:

Arthritis

Injuries

Migraines

Muscle soreness

Multiple sclerosis

What to Pay Attention to When Shopping for CBD Oil for Pain

If you have never used CBD oil for pain management, know that not all brands will have products of the same quality. Fortunately, we are here to help you out. Let’s see some of the key characteristics of a top-quality CBD oil for pain.

Type of Oil Extract

There are three types of CBD oil extracts in total.

The first one is full-spectrum CBD. It’s often considered to be the most potent one since it contains all substances available in hemp plants. That also includes a small amount of THC.

Next, we have broad-spectrum CBD. Just like a full-spectrum extract, it features the full list of various compounds found in hemp. However, it is THC-free.

The third type of CBD extract is CBD isolate. It’s the most purified option of the three. Unfortunately, it is also the least potent one since it lacks many beneficial hemp plant compounds.

Extraction Method

When shopping for CBD oil for pain, look for brands that opt for CO2 extraction. This extraction method doesn’t involve the use of harmful chemicals, which makes it less dangerous overall. Also, carbon dioxide preserves all the healing properties of hemp and makes the cannabidiol extract very potent.

Hemp Source

If you want to buy a truly effective CBD oil, focus on extracts derived from organic hemp. Compared to its non-organic counterpart, this sort has higher potency and doesn’t contain any toxins.

Amount of THC

Avoid using CBD oils that are not marked as low-THC products. Otherwise, you may have to face legal consequences.

Third-Party Testing

Finally, check if the brand has a Certificate of Analysis issued by a third-party laboratory. Such reports and tests are a sign that the manufacturer behind the product has nothing to hide.

Best CBD Oils for Pain

We’ll list the brands based on their oils’ potency. Therefore, we’ll go from the least to the most potent ones.

Gold Bee

Gold Bee is a California-based CBD brand. Its oil contains full-spectrum CBD, but its potency is limited to 33 mg/mL. As such, it may mostly appeal to newbie consumers.

Endoca

On paper, Endoca CBD oil’s strength can go up to 50 mg/mL. In reality, however, this product is a bit milder because it contains a high amount of CBDA. Still, the extracts come from Spain-grown organic hemp plants, and the oil has excellent pain-management properties.

Royal CBD

Royal CBD Oil is extracted from organic hemp plants, and it holds a Certificate of Analysis by a third-party lab. What’s more, it comes in several flavors and strengths. Its sole downside is that you can only purchase it online — for now, at least.

Diamond CBD

Diamond CBD Oil comes in many different potency options. As a result, it’s one of the few cannabidiol-based oils that can successfully alleviate different levels and types of pain. This full-spectrum CBD oil will help you manage not only mild but also acute pain symptoms with ease.

Hemp Bombs

Hemp Bombs’ CBD oil checks all the boxes. It’s organic, CO2-extracted, and third-party tested. Best of all, it comes in five potency options. The highest of them packs 5,000 mg of CBD.

This is also a broad-spectrum CBD oil, which means that it doesn’t contain any THC. Therefore, you can use it even if your job requires you to undergo regular drug tests.

Notable Mentions

They are a few more quality oils that are definitely worth mentioning. Among them are Green Roads CBD Oil and one of the most potent products in this category — CBDistillery CBD oil. Still, we chose to leave them off the list because the companies use non-organic hemp.

Other great anti-pain CBD solutions are NuLeaf Naturals and Verified CBD oils. The only downside is that these come at a premium price.

As parents, we do whatever it takes for the benefit of our children. Often, that means making decisions that may go against the grain, like giving CBD oil supplements to our little ones. The chances are that you have heard from the people in your surroundings that CBD oil works wonders for children. But how much do we really know about CBD oil for kids?

CBD is short for cannabidiol, which is a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis that has numerous beneficial effects on the body and brain. It is available in many forms: oil drops, edibles, ointments, capsules, and vaping liquids, to name a few.

CBD oil is renowned for its anticonvulsant effect on children who have epilepsy. But you can also use it as a health supplement for your kids, especially for conditions like anxiety, autism, and ADHD. Here’s all you need to know.

CBD Oil for Kids Battling With ADHD

CBD oil can help control your child’s attention disorder. Not only does CBD oil help children concentrate more effectively, but it will prevent them from feeling overstimulated. Many parents swear that CBD oil helps with ADHD and hypersensitivity in children. Also, a 2014 study suggested CBD improves alertness during the day and promotes sounder sleep patterns at night.

CBD Oil for Kids Suffering From Anxiety

CBD oil influences how your kid’s brain responds to the sensations of fear and anxiety. It promotes the distribution of serotonin to the body, which lowers the stress levels, aids relaxation, and hence, reduces anxiety.

CBD Oil for Kids Diagnosed With Autism

A pediatric neurology study was conducted to assess the effect of CBD oil on autistic children. It concluded that in 80% of the cases, there was an improvement in behavior. More than half of the parents involved in the study reported improved communication and lowered anxiety in their children.

How to Choose the Best CBD Oil For Kids

The Soil

Make sure the oil comes from uncontaminated hemp that grew in pure, controlled soil. I suggest finding a manufacturer that acquires plants from domestic, organic farmers, instead of one grown in subpar conditions.

The Extraction Method

Don’t settle for products that use inexpensive technology, like toxic solvents, such as propane and butane. Ethanol extraction is the best method for tinctures, while CO2 extraction is optimal for oils.

Full-Spectrum or Isolate

Full-spectrum oil contains all cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids found in hemp, including a negligible trace amount of THC. The synergy of all these compounds creates the entourage effect for the maximum therapeutic benefit, which is what I wholeheartedly recommend. Isolates are pure CBD extracts, which means they are perfectly harmless for kids. But if you prefer to play it safe and not expose your child to any THC, go for the isolate.

Quality Assurance

Never buy your child an unverified product. Only go for brands that are transparent about their third-party lab test results that are unbiased and show the full content and the potency of the oil.

How to Dose CBD Oil for Kids

Kids can use the same oil as adults. But children weigh less and should take smaller doses. For a kid, I recommend going for a milder oil so it can be dosed more easily. Start with 0.5 mg per pound and increase the amount gradually until you find the perfect dose for your little one.

Also, if sublingual drops don’t agree with your child because of their characteristic taste, go for gummies. Kids love them because they come in many yummy flavors, and they are usually less potent than other options, so you don’t have to worry about the dosage.

There is a lot of hype about CBD products these days. The word about CBD is spreading at incredible speed, and people want to know more about it. But when we browse the web to find information about it, we realize that there are so many misconstrued details online. So what is CBD? To answer that question properly, I came up with this useful guide on CBD that will set the record straight about it. Learn what CBD is, how to use it, and what effect it has on our well-being.

What Is CBD?

Cannabis has many active compounds that, working in unison, have a therapeutic effect on the user. Cannabidiol, or CBD in short, is one of the two compounds that is the most pronounced in Cannabis Sativa. The other one is THC, aka tetrahydrocannabinol, which is where the confusion about CBD stems from.

CBD vs. THC

Namely, THC is the compound that is most associated with “the high” that a person experiences after smoking marijuana. Unlike CBD, THC is highly psychoactive and causes a strain of activities in the brain, making marijuana a controlled substance in many U.S. states.

In contrast, CBD is entirely non-intoxicating and safe to use for adults and children alike. It has a soothing effect on the body, while it does nothing to alter the mind. What’s more, when taken together with THC, CBD can significantly negate its adverse impact on the user. For all of that, CBD consumption is legal on a federal level.

Hemp vs. Marijuana

Another critical thing to know about CBD is where it is sourced from. Both hemp and marijuana are strains of the cannabis plant, but their chemical composition is quite different.

Hemp is rich in CBD as it is its most abundant compound, while it contains only trace amounts of THC (<0.3%) On the other hand, marijuana is notorious for its high THC content (5%–35%) and much lower CBD (<1%).

That is why industrial hemp-sourced CBD is legal nationwide, and marijuana-based CBD is illegal in most states.

How Does CBD Work? What Benefits Does It Have on Our Health?

Upon consumption, CBD interacts with our endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for many bodily functions, such as:

What CBD does is intercept the body’s receptors for the functions mentioned above. In doing so, it decreases our sensitivity to pain, reduces insomnia and inflammation, lowers the body temperature and stress levels, and slows down the hyperactivity of the brain, among other things.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that CBD helps with many acute and chronic conditions, including:

How to Use CBD

CBD can be infused in a variety of products. The most popular is CBD oil, as it can be taken sublingually or added to food or drink. Many people like to use CBD-enriched edibles, like gummies, and also capsules because such products are the easiest to consume, just like any other health supplement. CBD can also be bought in the form of:

Vaping e-liquid

Sprays

Body care products

Pet products

Ointments

Powder

Now that we’ve answered what CBD is and how we can use it to improve and maintain our overall health, you can choose the product that is the most suitable for you to intake or go for separate products for different purposes.

CBD oil is legal in all 50 states, so naturally, we can see it all over the place. We can get our hands on it from just about anywhere — dispensaries, supermarkets, health food stores, and even pharmacies. But when I tried to find the best CBD oil near me, I was in for a surprise.

As it turns out, most of the places that sell CBD oil near me have products that are either not pure CBD oil or not CBD oil at all! That got me wondering about how to get a verified, good quality oil instead of a sub-par product, and how to tell the difference between the two.

Why Are There so Many Scam Products?

CBD is legal on a federal level. So CBD oil is in high demand, and everyone is looking to cash in. Sadly, that means there are a lot of shady dealers on the market. If we take a good look at what some shops are offering, we will find many diluted products that tempt us with their lower-than-life prices. Or they trick us into buying regular hemp seed oil that contains absolutely no CBD but maintains the inflated price tag.

Even the dispensaries are becoming increasingly unreliable. Often, they are run by well-informed people who turn a blind eye to the quality of the oil. After all, most of them are selling just to turn a quick profit. Their customers then get low-grade products that contain synthetic cannabinoids. The oil could also come from hemp imported from a third-world country. That may mean it contains pesticides or other harmful substances. Either way, such CBD oil is less potent and will not deliver the desired results, while it may also pose a health risk.

How Can We Be Sure a Product Is the Real Deal?

Sadly, the CBD oil market is quite unregulated. So the only way to know which manufacturer is trustworthy is to do our research and do it well. That is why I get my CBD oil from reputable online stores.

When buying CBD oil online, I make sure I ask everything I want to know before I add to the cart. I also inquire about where the company gets the hemp it sources CBD from if that information is not available on their website. Next, I make sure that they abstract this compound using the best method, which is the CO2 extraction. And I never fail to inquire about unbiased proof that the oil is of the highest quality — every reputable seller will have third-party lab test results to back up their claims.

If you don’t get all the info you ask about, I suggest you move on to the next bidder. After all, there are so many fish in the sea!

CBD has had a turbulent legal history in the United States, mostly because people associate it with marijuana. It is still somewhat of a taboo topic. That’s why I have compiled this helpful guide to familiarize you with the regulations governing the use of this cannabis compound on a national level. But because the CBD industry is ever-changing, make sure you verify its legal status in your state.

What Is CBD?

Cannabidiol, otherwise known as CBD, is a substance that is present in all strains of the Cannabis plant, and hemp is only one of them. In fact, CBD is merely one of several hundreds of cannabinoids that exist in cannabis. Another well-known cannabinoid is THC, which stands for tetrahydrocannabinol.

As opposed to TCH, CBD is non-intoxicating, which means it doesn’t have a psychoactive effect on the user. On the contrary, CBD is a rather benevolent compound. It helps relieve pain and inflammation, reduces the risk of seizures, and lowers stress levels and anxiety.

Cannabis sativa is a plant species that has many subclasses. Marijuana and hemp are the most famous of them. However, many people don’t know that there is a stark difference between the two. Namely, hemp is the strain that contains 0.3% THC or less. The plant we know as marijuana has a higher THC content.

What Affects the Legal Status of CBD?

For decades, there’s been a lot of confusion about the legality of this compound. First, there are differences between federal and state laws. There are also legal variations when it comes to the medicinal and recreational use of cannabis, and in particular, the use of hemp and marijuana.

Is Hemp Legal?

Hemp was legalized with the passing of the Agricultural Improvement Act in 2018. Popularly called the Farm Bill, it removed hemp from the Controlled Substance List. That means we can now grow it for commercial purposes on Indian territory and all across the USA. With this change in law, the Drug Enforcement Administration no longer monitors hemp cultivation. It now falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. What that means is that hemp is legal. But the law is unclear whether that extends to CBD extracted from hemp.

So Is CBD Legal in the U.S. Today?

According to the Farm Bill, the Food and Drug Administration is in charge of the products that contain cannabis or some of its compounds. FDA has to approve these products as supplements, food, cosmetics, or drugs. Only then can manufacturers freely sell them across state lines.

For the time being, CBD is legal on a federal level if it derives from industrial hemp, which contains 0.3% THC at most. However, marijuana-derived CBD is still considered illegal federally.

However, all states retain the right to pass their own laws. Therefore, although approved on the federal level, CBD is still considered illegal in Idaho, Nebraska, and South Dakota. These three states do not allow the use of any cannabis strain, neither for medical nor for recreational use.